Somnoplasty Treatment Information

For those individuals who have either primary snoring or mild (RDI less than 15 episodes/hour) obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the Somnoplasty Radiofrequency System has revolutionized the treatment of the enlarged turbinates and elongated palate.

Beneath the sub-mucosa (beneath the skin of the palate and/or nasal turbinates) and into the palatal musculature or body of the turbinates respectively, radiofrequency energy is introduced and carefully monitored via sophisticated thermocouples integrated into the somnoplasty hand piece.
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The computerized radiofrequency generator uses low-power, low-temperature energy to coagulate the tissue beneath the skin of the turbinates, palate, or base of the tongue in order to ultimately shrink those tissues and help eliminate the noise of snoring or the obstruction that is present in the apneic patient. Low energy and low temperature translates into virtually no pain and no time lost from work. Moreover, not only is it time saving, cost effective, and virtually painless, but the technique's results for snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are very comparable with those of invasive UPPP and LAUP procedures. Without question, in-office somnoplasty under local anesthesia has revolutionized the treatment of snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.

As exciting as Somnoplasty was several years ago, the work by Brietzke and Mair may very well revolutionize the in office treatment of simple snoring. The recently reported success of in office injection somnoplasty will potentially provide a safe, effective, "finally affordable", means of significantly decreasing the noise of snoring. The injection of 1% sodium tetradecyl sulfate (i.e. Sotradecol), submucosally (beneath the skin or covering of the palate), induces an inflammatory reaction that results in the production of palatal scarring. This procedure is similar to palatal somnoplasty, which stiffens the palate and thereby reduces the vibrations and noise created during sleeping. Based upon the Walter Reed experience, approximately two injections of 2cc into a patient's palate were needed to greatly diminish the patient's snoring. Their reported success in snorers with this simple technique was 92%. Very few treatments can boast better results and certainly none are as simple, safe, or as inexpensive. This technique is still very new; however, my personal results have been quite favorable.

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